By Sunday Ani
A group of election observation partners in the Saturday, November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its professional disposition in the conduct of the election.
The group, in a statement by its leaders, applauded the commitment of the electoral umpire in upholding the principles of democracy. It said the election was an improvement in INEC’s performance to ensure that elections in Nigeria meet international standards and requirements.
According to the group, the election highlighted increased efficiency at every stage of the electoral process on the part of the INEC, thus exceeding the expectations of many Nigerians at the polls.
The group comprises the Sustainable Initiative for Nurturing Growth (SING); Women and Youth Empowerment for Global Change Initiative; New Nation Foundation for Global Development; Total Care for Peace and Development Initiative; Citizens Right for Peace and Good Leadership Initiative; Initiative for the Rapid Development of Nigeria; Initiative for Youth Transformation for Positive Change; Women Right and Peace Protection Initiative for African; Peace Advocate and Voice for the Common Man; and First Massive Literati Foundation.
Part of the statement read: “The election was marked by a high level of professionalism, dedication, and adherence to electoral guidelines by the INEC officials, and we applaud their commitment to upholding the principles of democracy. The smooth conduct of the election is a testament to the strides made in improving the electoral process in Nigeria.
“We would also like to extend our congratulations to Governor Duoye Diri on his victory in the governorship election. We believe that his success is a reflection of the will of the people of Bayelsa State, as expressed through their votes.
“However, it is with deep concern that we note certain incidents of violence, particularly in Brass Local Government Area, during the election. We condemn these acts unequivocally, as they undermine the democratic process and endanger the lives of citizens. In light of this, we call for a thorough investigation and prosecution of all the individuals involved in the electoral violence, irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Furthermore, we express our dismay over the alleged involvement of the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Joshua Maciver, in instigating violence in Brass Local Government Area. If these allegations are substantiated, we call for the immediate prosecution of Mr. Maciver in accordance with the law. Such actions should not go unpunished, as they set a dangerous precedent and erode public trust in the electoral process.”